Semaphore-signaling system.



R. M. DE VIGNIER.

SEMAPHORE SIGNALING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED um. 23, 1912.

1,104,480, Patented July 21, 1914.

2 SHEBTS-mSHBET 1.

THE NORRIS PETERS C0,. PHOTOJJTHOH WASHINGTUN. D, 6.

R. M. DE VIGNIER.

SEMAPHORE SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.23, 1912.

1,104,480. Patented July 21, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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THE AORRIS PETERS 60., FHOTUYLITHQ. WASHINGTON. D. Cv

TINTTED STATES PATET FETCH.

ROBERT DIOTT DE VIGNIER, OF HOLLIS TERRACE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF HEX/V YORK, N. 5. A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SEMAPHORE-SIGNALING SYSTEM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT Morr DE VIGNIER, citizen of the United States, residing at Hollis Terrace, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Semaphore-Signaling Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to semaphore signaling systems, and more particularly to a semaphore signaling system in which the signals are moved to danger position under control of a distant operator and manually returned to normal or safety position.

The invention has for its object the provision of a simple form of answer-back mechanism adapted to be operated in the operation of the semaphore signal and one which will be reliable in its operation and not liable to injury by the comparatively massive parts of the semaphore signal.

In the application of this invention to a semaphore signal a lost motion connection is provided between the answer-back mechanism and a vertically movable member of the semaphore whereby the said answerback mechanism will be rendered operative only when the semaphore arm has reached a danger indicating position. This lost motion connection comprises a rotating member operated by the vertically movable rod and carrying lugs, one of which is adapted in the rotation of said member to raise a holding pawl which releases a spring driven shaft. The reset-ting of the answer-back mechanism occurs in the return of the signal to normal position and is accomplished through the return rotation of the said rotation member the lugs of which engage pins extending from the face of a disk carried by the spring driven shaft to rewind the spring and return said shaft to the position where it is held by said pawl.

In the drawings illustrating this invention-Figure 1 is a front elevation with parts in section of the answer-back mechanism; Fig. 2 is a side elevation illustrating the connection of the mechanism to the vertically movable rod of the semaphore. Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary details of parts of the mechanism; and Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation with parts broken away of a semaphore signal and the answer-back mechanism.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 23, 1912.

Patented July 21, 1214. Serial No. 685,899.

. Referring now to said drawings, and par ticularly to Fig. 1, 5 designates a clock train lnterruptmg mechanism which may be any well-known form, such as a district mes senger call-box. This mechanism comprises as a part a cover 6, a motor shaft 7 connected with a chain of gears, and springcontacts 8,, 9 and 10 rendered operative in the operation of said gear train. The motor shaft 7 extends through one side of the cover, and there is mounted upon the outer end thereof a disk 12 havinga notch 18 in its periphery and diametrically oppositely located pins or projections 14, 14 in its face. Pivotally supported adjacent to said dlsk 1s a pawl 15 adapted to engage the notch 13 and having a projecting portion 16 which extends over the face of the disk 12 for the purposes hereinafter set forth. The mechanism is mounted upon a suitable support 17 which is preferably a part of the semaphore signal support.

Supported in a bearing 20 carried by said support 17 is a shaft 21 upon the inner end of which and adjacent to the disk 12 is mounted a clutch member 22 having lugs 28 and 24 thereon adapted to engage the pins 14, 14 on the disk 12 and the projecting portion 16 of the pawl 15 in the rotation of said shaft. Mounted upon the outer end of the shaft 21 is a forked member 25 having prongs26 and 27 and a shoulder 28 adapted, in the downward movement thereof, to engage a stop member 29 secured to said base 17. An antifriction roller secured to the vertically movable rod of a semaphore signal is in engagement with the forked member 25 between-the prongs 26 and 27 thereof.

A portion of the surface of the vertically movable rod 40 is provided with rack teeth 45, adapted to mesh with a toothed segment 46 mounted upon a shaft 47 rotatably supported in bearings 48, 48. Also rotatably mounted upon said shaft 47 is a collar 49 carrying a handle 50 having a projecting portion 51 thereon adapted to engage a projection on the toothed segment 46 to return the semaphore arm 52 to normal position.

The vertically movable rod 40 moves in engagement with an antifriction roller 35.

Referring now to the operation of the mechanism, it will be assumed that the semaphore arm 52 is in normal or safety position, as indicated in full lines in Fig. 5, and that parts to normal by the necessary steps have been taken to release the semaphore arm. When released the weight of the arm and the vertically movable rod will cause said rod to move downwardly, and as it moves downwardly the engagement of the roller 35 in the forked member 25 will cause the rotation of the shaft 21 and clutch 22 in a counter-clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4. As the clutch 22 is rotated the lug 24 thereon will be brought into engagement with the projecting portion 16 of the pawl 15 and will lift said pawl from engagement with the notch 13 in the disk 12, thus releasing said disk and permitting the motor shaft 7 to rotate and close suitable circuits through the contact springs 8, 9 and 10. The lug 24 upon the clutch 22 is so located with respect to the pawl 15 that it will not engage the projection 16 thereon until the vertically movable rod 40 has fallen almost, if not quite, to the limit of its downward movement; at least, until the semaphore arm 50 has reached a position indicating danger.

When the clock train mechanism is released by the lifting of the pawl 15' the disk 12 will be rotated until the pins 14, 14 thereon are in engagement with the back faces of the lugs 23 and 24 on the'clutch member 22. As the vertically movable rod 40 moves downwardly it will rotate the toothed segment 46 into the position shown in dotted lines on Fig. 5. The member of the train crew who responds to the signal restores the pulling the handle downwardly. This rotates the toothed segment 46 to lift the rod 40. As the rod 40 moves upwardly the antifriction roller 35 thereon engages the prong 26 of the forked member 25, and thus rotates the clutch member 22 which, as it rotates, carries the disk 12 therewith by reason of the engagement of the pins 14, 14 thereon with the lugs 23 and 24 on a This movement of the 1 disk 12 will bring the notch 13 into position to'be engaged by the pawl 15, which is normally pressed against the periphery of said I 60. At the same time that the pawl 15 drops into the notch 13 of the disk 12 suitable retaining mechanism is moved into engagement with the rod said clutch member.

disk by means of a spring 40 of the signal, and all parts are in conchtion for a succeedlng operation. a

By controlling the release of the answerthe clutch 22, as hereinbefore described, the

said answer-back mechanism is free from? shock or other detrimental effects due to tl'u movement of the comparatively massive parts of the semaphore signal. Further- 1 more, the relation of the answer-back mechi anism to the vertically movable rod 40 makes 1 possible the release of the answer-back mechanism at any point of the movement of said 1 rod desired merely by the changing of the relation of the lug on the clutch 22 to the pawl 15 and the pins on the disk 12. It is desirable, however, in a system of this class that this operation do not occur until the semaphore arm has reached a position where the desired signal cannot be mistaken.

I claim:

1. In combination a semaphore signal, an operating member therefor having a reciprocal movement, current interrupting mechanism, and a rotating member operatively connected with said operating member and said current interrupting mechanism for both releasing and resetting said current interrupting mechanism in the reciprocal movement of said operating member.

2. In a semaphore signaling system the combination with a semaphore arm and a vertically movable rod connected therewith, of current interrupting mechanism embracing a shaft and driving means carried thereby, a disk carried by said shaft and having a notch therein, a pivotally mounted pawl normally engaging said notch, a projection on said pawl extending over the face of said disk, a rotating member located adjacent said disk and operatively connected with said vertically movable rod, and a lug on said rotating member brought into engage ment with theprojecting portion of said pawl when said rod is substantially at the limit of its downward movement.

3. The combination with a semaphore signal comprising a semaphore arm and a vertically movable rod connected therewith, of current interrupting mechanism embracing therein, pins projecting from the face of said disk, a spring-pressed pawl engaging said notch, a projection on said pawl extending over the face of said disk, a rotating ti'cally movable rod, and a pair of lugs on said rotating member, one of said lugs being adapted when the said rod is substantially at the limit of its downward movethe notch, and both said lugs being adapted to engage the pins in said disk in the up,- ward movement of said rod to reset said interrupting mechanism.

4. The combination with a semaphore signal comprising a semaphore, arm and a verback mechanism through the pawl 15 and;

tically movable rod connected therewith, of current interruptlng mechanism embracing a clock-tram, a support for sa1d interruptsaid vertically movable rod for both releasing and resetting said current interrupting mechanism, and means for limiting the downward movement of said forked member.

5. The combination with a semaphore siga shaft and driving means therefor, a disk secured to sa1d shaft and having a' notch member operatively connected with said verment to lift said pawl from engagement with ing mechanism, axforked armmounted upon 1 said support and operatively connected with nal comprising a semaphore arm and a vera stop on said support adapted to,be en- 10 tically movable rod connected therewith, of gaged by said shoulder.

current interrupting mechanism embracing In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe a clock-train, a support for said interruptmy name this 21st day of March A. D., 1912.

in mechanism, a forked arm mounted u on said support and operatively connected W ith ROBERT MOTT DE VIGNIER' said vertically movable rod for both releas- Witnesses:

ing and resetting said current interrupting M. F. HUGHES,

mechanism, a shoulder on said member and G. M. CAMPBELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

